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Lecavalier, Lightning continue streaks

Nov 17, 2007 - 6:17 AM TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- The NHL's hottest player was at it again Friday night.

Vincent Lecavalier scored a goal and set up two others as the Tampa Bay Lightning posted their fifth straight win, a 5-2 triumph over the Washington Capitals in a matchup of Southeast Division foes.

Lecavalier has registered seven consecutive multi-point efforts, tying Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux's all-time record. He has six goals and 13 assists over that stretch.

Brad Richards and Martin St. Louis also had a goal and two assists apiece for the Lightning, who have exploded for 24 goals during their winning streak.

"We weren't our best tonight," Richards said. "We talked about it when we were losing. Sometimes you lose some games that you might think you had a good chance of winning.

"Tonight, I'm not saying we played good enough in certain areas. We were very opportunistic. When we had our chances, we buried them, and that's probably why we won."

Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella also was not very pleased with the entire team's effort.

"We need to get more out of our secondary people in situational play," he said. "That's what disturbs me tonight, is that our top guys are counted on both offensively and defensively, and I can't get a couple of shifts in a row out of our secondary people.

"We're not going to win hockey games unless we get that straightened out. Those guys have to step up, and that's what's frustrating to me."

Lecavalier wasted little time getting on the scoresheet, notching a power-play goal 91 seconds into the first period. It was his 13th tally of the season.

St. Louis and Richards both picked up assists on the play. They have combined with Lecavalier for 79 points this season, making them the top trio in the NHL.

Lecavalier nearly netted another goal minutes later but was denied when goaltender Brent Johnson turned aside his attempt with his left pad.

Lecavalier tied Lemieux's record, set in 2002, when he set up Richards' goal with 9:38 remaining in the second period. Richards blasted a slap shot that beat Johnson to the glove side, giving the Lightning a 3-2 edge.

He collected another assist on St. Louis' empty-net tally with 23 seconds left in the third.

Brooks Laich tied the game at 1-1 with 7:14 to go in the first period, when he tipped defenseman Shaone Morrisonn's shot from just above the right faceoff circle past goaltender Johan Holmqvist for his third of the season.

Alex Ovechkin netted his 13th goal less than a minute later to give the Capitals a 2-1 lead, but Jan Hlavac answered for the Lightning 1:49 afterward to forge a tie.

Washington has lost seven of its last eight games.

"The Washington team reminds me of us a couple of weeks ago - trying to find a way to win," Tortorella said. "They played their butts off against Florida (Thursday) night, they played hard tonight and they're not getting rewarded. We're very fortunate to win this hockey game."

Holmqvist, who was making his seventh straight start for Tampa Bay, turned aside 28 shots.

"Holmqvist certainly has done his job, tonight especially," Tortorella said. "And I don't think we were on our game through most of it. But teams that end up being there at the end of the year win these types of games. Credit goes, starting with Holmqvist, right on through the team, as far as just trying to find a way to win."

"Holmqvist has been playing great, very consistent," Lightning defenseman Paul Ranger added. "Can't say much more than that. He's been unbelievable a couple of these nights here."

Ranger scored his career-high fourth tally of the season with 28 seconds remaining in the middle session to give the Lightning a 4-2 lead. He also had four goals in 72 games last campaign.

"We're just going to play it the same way we've played every game so far," Ranger said. "We're going to play hard and we're going to play our system and keep going for the wins here."